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Anyone Using a "Studio Grade" Preamp???

jokerjkny

jokerjkny

Jan 19, 2002
13,427
54
NY / NJ / PHL
www.instagram.com
#1
hey all,

while i'm in love w/ my Demeter HBP-1, i'm running out of knobs to twist to better control in the upper end of things. parametric really do spoil a guy. ;)

so, while i dont quite have the coin left to splurge on the much touted Millennia STT-1, and yet wasnt quite happy w/ the inexpensive Presonus Eureka was wondering what else is out there and what you guys are using?

was thinking about the Speck Mic/EQ combo, or even the FMR Really Nice Preamp.
 
#2
My SWR Baby Blue II 2x8 claims to be a high end hand made, each component hand picked studio grade bass reference system. The engineer I work with most really likes it...as do I. Not very loud, but in that context it doesn't need to be.
It does not have very many knobs;)

The TFB550 has a really great eq section...not necessarily a pre only, but it does have a DI that outputs the eq'd signal...
 
#4
Way back I got my temporary mits on a nice Summit and a big old Avalon(not the U5)to use out for a short while to experiment with. They both sounded great but I found myself going very flattish most of the time and just enjoying the warmth and clarity it added to my natural tone and never really got to "knobby" with them. I guess I approached it more as an effect than a tone shaping device, but I am a "flat-o-holic" for the most part anyway. If I had $2k or $3k EXTRA to toss around for fun I would probably utilize one of those studio quality pre's in my arsenal, that Summit was dang sweet!!
One unit I have been peeping is a moderately priced unit by Toft Audio, I think it's called the EC-1 or something. It appears to be simular to the U5 but with some EQ. If I pull the trigger on it I'll get back at you and give you the run-down!!
 
#5
i_got_a_mohawk said:
Isnt there a peavey preamp thats fully parametric?

Dunno if its what you'd be looking for, but dont shun the name :)
Click to expand...
Isn't the Pro series pre fully parametric, have heard good things about them, played one briefly, seemed ok, didn't have time to mess with it which is kinda the point withthe amp tho.
 
#6
BBE Bmax or Bmax-T. bright switch, Passive mid control, Parametric mid, and SONIC MAXIMIZER which REALLY brings out the sweetness of any rig's top end....not that awful metallic snap you get with some treble controls....reall the sweetest I've ever heard if you're going for clarity and sheen......

only other suggestion is the Aguilar db 680, twice the price and not justifiably so IMHO
 
#8
Joker, I got the impression that you were referring to using high end mic pre's for bass. If that's the case you might want to alter your initial statement, otherwise you will probably get a lot of Tech 21 RBI and other comparable comments.
 
#9
How about Avalon U5, Aguilar DB680, Kern IP-777 :D

Seriously though what dont you like about the DB 680 in the studio? I cant imagine needing more. You have the high para mids plus bright and treble.
 
#12
jokerjkny said:
so, while i dont quite have the coin left to splurge on the much touted Millennia STT-1
Click to expand...

Joker,
You answered your own question.... :smug:

The real question is do you want to buy the STT-1 now or spend the time, energy and money buying and selling other gear inbetween now and that time. ;)

Seriously, the TD-1 is probably enough for every bass player I know. If you need a compressor, more EQ and a tube pre then certainly save those pennies for a STT-1 but other wise grab a TD-1 and enjoy plug and play bass bliss.

JC
 
#13
Joelc73 said:
Seriously, the TD-1 is probably enough for every bass player I know. If you need a compressor, more EQ and a tube pre then certainly save those pennies for a STT-1 but other wise grab a TD-1 and enjoy plug and play bass bliss.
Click to expand...
Full agreement here, but you said it so much more eloquently than I did.

I'm tryin' not to be a bad influence here...
 
#14
They never get a mention here on TB but you could do worse than check out a TL Audio 5051. I don't know what they cost in your part of the world but they are usually good value. You get an excellent bass friendly semi-automatic compressor, 4 band semi parametric eq (very smooth and musical), 6 valve stages, noise gate, variable valve drive. Good feature set for use as a bass preamp. Mine is the ivory 2 series, they underwent considerable upgrades from the originals, which also had power supply issues if memory serves. HHB marketed TLA stuff for a while, it was identical except for the colour. I think the marketing agreement ended some time ago so if you see an HHB it's probably the old model. They're well designed and built. According to an info session I went to years ago TLA hired a bunch of designers from Neve when they went bust in the UK so they're better than you may expect for the price. I can't give you gigging opinions on one coz I stick with my svt but it's worth a look if you can find one.

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